Creepypasta OCs Advice + Reviews

Mental Illnesses/Disorders

SORRY FOR LATE UPDATE, I'VE BEEN BUSY. Forgive me...

This is so important, and I don't really think it should be taken lightly. Seriously, why the hell is it so hard to research even a bit before taking all the time to explain how this has impacted your fictional character's life? If you are going to give an OC a mental disorder, do it correctly. I understand if you make a mistake, but do your research and make it as accurate as possible. Don't do it for sympathy or an excuse.

Some Mental Illnesses/Disorders

Schizophrenia- A chronic mental disorder that usually blurs the line between imagination and reality. People with schizophrenia experience few or most of these symptoms: Auditory hallucinations, visual hallucinations, kinaesthetic hallucinations, lack of emotion, delusions, difficulty enjoying or indulging in activities, thought and movement disorders, and etc. Symptoms really depend on the severity. Lots of OCs have "Schizophrenia". I say that in quotations because it is very often poorly portrayed, and/or mistaken for insanity or depression. Just because you have schizophrenia doesn't mean you hear ruthless voices and kill with insane grins, ok?! That is so f*cking wrong. Yes, it can be quite severe, but it is actually not that common of a disorder nor does everyone with it hear voices or even have hallucinations. Please make sure you are realistic if you decide to input this into your OC. Research first. Always.

Depression- One of the most common mental illnesses, and symptoms include seemingly chronic feelings of sadness and/or hopelessness, loss of enjoyment in previously enjoyed activities, loss of energy, insomnia or oversleeping, and individuals with depression may or may not also self harm or be suicidal. It is also good friends with anxiety. Just a quick notice, not everyone with depression (trigger warning) cuts and wants to kill themselves. Also, cutting isn't the only form of self harm. Most people see depression as teenage sadness and angsty self harm, but it is far from that. Depression is a crippling mental illness often caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, and can feel very daunting to live with but is treatable. Don't throw this in your OCs face for pity, use it wisely. I say that as if I just handed you a legendary sword...well that lightens the mood at least!

Anxiety- A mental illness that causes unwanted anxious and fearful thoughts and behaviours, feelings of dread, panic, uneasiness, inability to feel calm or safe, sleep problems, and many physical symptoms like sweating, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, nausea, tense muscles, and possibility of anxiety and/or panic attacks. Anxiety isn't a "shy" teenage girl who stays inside all day and cries when talking to strangers. Many people stereotype this, but I guess it isn't too complicated to understand. There are many different types of anxiety as well. Generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety come to my head first.

Bipolar Disorder- Bipolar disorder, or BD, was once known as manic depression, and causes periods of depressions (known as, well, depressions, or lows) and elevated moods (manias or highs). During a mania, one feels or behaves abnormally energetic, happy, or irritable. One usually makes poor decisions whilst in a manic state, and can end up spending an unreasonable amount of money or feel they can do anything. The need for or ability to sleep is usually reduced as well. During periods of depressions, one will experience, well, something quite similar to depressions. Manias and depression often last long periods of times, while depressions last longer and up to several months, and manias can also last months depending on severity and Bipolar type. There is Bipolar 1 and 2. Bipolar 1 consists of one or more manic episodes or mixed episodes (which is when you experience symptoms of both a mania and a depression). Typically individuals with a Bipolar 1 will experience depressions too, but it is marked by extreme manic episodes. Bipolar 2 is characterized of at least one or more depressive episodes and at least one hypomania (a mania that is not as severe as those experienced by someone with Bipolar 1). There is a possibly of level mood between episodes. Those aren't even the only two types of Bipolar disorder, there is also Cyclothymia and Rapid Cycling. Bipolar disorder is not just mood swings, it is much more severe. And if I remember correctly, it is treatable but not yet curable. Again, do research please!

Borderline Personality Disorder- BPD is also known as emotional intensity disorder or emotionally unstable personality disorder, and symptoms include a long term pattern of abnormal behaviour characterized by unstable relationships with other people, unstable sense of self, and unstable emotions. Frequently, dangerous behaviour, feelings of emptiness, and an extreme fear of abandonment are included in the mix. The risk of self harm and depression are higher in someone with BPD. This can be mistaken for bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety but is not to be, as it is quite different.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder- Also a chronic mental illness. OCD comes with a bang, and can be very controlling over a person's lifestyle. Obsessions are involuntary thoughts, images, or impulses that occur over and over again in your mind. You don't want to have these ideas, but you can't stop them. Unfortunately they can be very disturbing or distracting. Compulsions are behaviours or rituals that you feel driven to act out again and again, usually to ease or make obsessions go away temporarily. It is a very vicious, repetitive, and scary cycle that sufferers must endure. The biggest and most brutally wrong and offensive misconception is that OCD is an, "obsession with cleaning". Some obsessions and compulsions can be driven by a fear of germs but that is still not by any means what OCD really is. It's vicious and controlling. After reading this you might think that your OC could go insane from their obsessions or be a yandere and, "have to kill". Hell no. That's not what OCD is. Please be considerate of this.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder- PTSD is chronic and caused by a traumatic event in ones life. Symptoms include reliving the trauma through recollections of the event in the form of distressing flashbacks and nightmares, emotional numbness and avoidance of places, things, activities, and people that remind them of the traumatic event, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, being easily irritated, or easily angered. 70% of adults experience trauma in their life, and 20% of these people develop PTSD from it. It isn't too common, but it is definitely hard to live with.

Eating Disorders- Anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder are all different types of eating disorders. There are many different types, and they all are controlling and scary. Anorexia is when one starves themselves in a desperate attempt to lose weight, and usually goes to great lengths with it. Bulimia consists of when one purges in order to remove the food they had already eaten, and aims to lose weight by eating then purging. Bulimia and anorexia are most common, and sometimes, someone can have both. Binge eating disorder is when someone eats excessively, and usually has a food obsession/addiction. Many people turn to eating disorders as a way to have control over their lives but it ends up doing the opposite. Eating disorders have many misconceptions! They are not at all glamorous. They are not just a teenage white girl problem. They are not simply wanting to lose weight (and as I said, BED also exists). They are not by any means easy to overcome and something you can simply have for a day then be fine the next day. It is a MENTAL illness, NOT a PHYSICAL illness. Someone with anorexia isn't just a white girl wearing a cute oversized sweater, who shyly refuses to eat a cupcake and wishes to be a bit prettier. Not at all. Eating disorders are also something males suffer from. If I remember correctly, about 40% of people who suffer from bulimia are male. So yeah, please do research.

Writing a Good Character with Mental Illness

So, it actually isn't too hard. Do. Your. Research. Don't be insensitive. Also, don't let it define your character. Good characters have personality, they aren't just crazy or mentally ill. That is unrealistic and just wrong in my opinion. They must have a personality and don't only see them as a mentally ill character. Sure, it can help build their character but don't let it define them. When you think of your character, is their mental disorder what first comes to mind? If so, you might want to time it down. While it may be a large part of their motives or behaviours in the Creepypasta world, still make it reasonably realistic. If you're going to roleplay, sure, include aspects of it but don't over do it. Also, slightly related, if your character has a stutter or some kind of emotional or physical disability that can easily be shown through their words or actions, don't do this (using stuttering as an example); "H-h-h-h-h-h-h-i I l-l-l-l-like cupcakes."
*inhale* Please no. You don't even have to include it, just say they stuttered or slurred. Don't envelope your character in their, "flaws".

Many mentally healthy and human OCs exist, and they are good! Sure, you can add mental illness to make your character more interesting, but do it right :3

SIDE NOTE! I spent 2-3 hours writing this. Maybe more. All I gotta say is that it's 1am where I live right now and I'm tired as hell. If I can spend several hours doing detailed research, you can spend 5 minutes to check your facts.

'Kay? 'Kay.